Second to one: Coe-Brown's depth sparks spirited N.E x-c. finish

Wednesday

Nov 14, 2012 at 3:15 AMNov 14, 2012 at 5:16 AM

By Mike Whaleymwhaley@fosters.com

DOVER — At the end of the challenging 3.1-mile run, mud flecked the red running shirts and caked the spiked running shoes. There was sweat, some tears, but mostly smiles, especially after the Coe-Brown Northwood Academy girls cross country team got word they had earned second place at Saturday's New England championship at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland, Maine.

That's second place with five underclassmen doing the scoring (three of those freshmen), spearheading the best regional finish in school history. Last year, the Bears were third in Rhode Island.

“Once again we couldn't predict what the top-five would be if we looked at it beforehand,” said co-coach Tim Cox. “They had the right temperament. They were enjoying themselves. They were loose and focused and they followed through.”

The Bears scored 132 points to finish behind champion Barrington, R.I., which ran a great race with a score of 75 (all five of its scoring runners in the top-50). Two-time defending champion Champlain Valley, Vt., took third with 176. La Salle, R.I. (185) and Ridgefield, Conn. (218) rounded out the top five.

Junior Jessie Carney, who has been battling a viral and nutrition problem for several weeks, ran better than expected to place 98th. Parker was diagnosed with a bacterial infection last Thursday, coming off a rough Meet of Champions where she struggled with a stomach virus. She's on antibiotics now and could be back at full strength for the team's trip to the Nike Cross National Northeast Regional on Nov. 24 in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

Carney and Parker were the Bears' strongest runners for most of the season. For Coe-Brown to do as well as it did with them at less than 100 percent spoke to the team's depth.

“It's been a roller coaster,” Cox said. “We knew Barrington would be very hard to beat. We knew they would be tough to beat, even with a perfect race. We had a plan. We followed it.”

Coe-Brown had to readjust at race time when they saw their starting box put them at a disadvantage, requiring them to make a left hand turn over the first 250 meters. Others boxes were a straight shot.

Parker was asked to lead over that first stretch, using her height and her ability as a plower to get her team in a good position. But once out, the plan was for her to pull back.

“She's a thoroughbred and she took it easy,” Cox said. “That's hard to do.”

“Hannah is so experienced,” co-coach Brent Tkaczyk added. “She led that first 800 meters and let the freshmen tuck in behind her

Danis and Laskowsky got out beautifully. “Not too fast, not too slow,” Cox said. “They were out of the masses.”

Cox said there were mud tips all through the course. Coe-Brown's runners were told to relax through the mud and not to veer.

Catching Barrington wasn't going to happen, but holding off Champlain Valley, which had two runners in the top eight, became the focus.

“Hannah moved up and gave us the thumbs up,” Cox said. “Katie Scannell was a steady fourth and a spark plug. He sister (Meg) was seventh the last two weeks and she was coming on. That was the key the second half. With a half-mile to go, Meg saw her sister's red shirt and went. I wasn't sure where we were with Champlain Valley second and eighth. But Hannah was laughing and giggling. That was victory. Jessie gave it everything she's got. It gave us enough to go into the woods and be proud. Hope for second and maybe third. It was a sweet finish to the New Englands. I couldn't be more happy.”

Although Carney did not run her best, her presence was integral to the Bears' success.

“She's been the leader all year long,” Tkaczyk added. “She keeps them focused. She makes sure things are getting done the right way.”

The Bears now turn their attention to the Nike Cross, which draws top teams from all six New England states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There's time to get healthier and make a legitimate run at qualifying for the Nike Cross Nationals.

“They're raring to go for another one,” Cox said. “We'll get to see some of the best teams around. It will be a tall order to qualify. But we'll gain the experience and get the opportunity. The course is perfect for us — 1.5 miles up and 1.5 miles down hill.”

The top two teams from the eight regional races (and then four at-large teams) qualify for the national race on Dec. 1 in Portland, Ore.